Parker University College of Chiropractic launches internship with CTCA

Chiropractic EconomicsJune 7, 2011

June 7, 2011 — Parker University College of Chiropractic has partnered with Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla. to provide a student internship program for Parker’s chiropractic students where they will work alongside doctors and specialists to provide expert care for the patients they serve.

Representatives from CTCA held a ceremony today to introduce the new collaboration between the two integrative health care leaders.

“This new internship program provides Parker’s students with a unique educational experience through exposure to a diverse cancer patient population,” said Steve Mackin, president and chief executive officer of CTCA at Southwestern Regional Medical Center. “We’re pleased to offer these learning experiences to future doctors interested in integrative health care approaches.”

CTCA has board-certified physicians who have extensive experience in treating all cancer types, including advanced-stage diseases, as well as physicians who specialize in other fields, such as pulmonology, gastroenterology, and neurology. Parker students participating in the 11-week rotating internship will be exposed to these treatments as well as the hospital’s cutting-edge technology.

“Internship opportunities like this are extremely important in furthering the education of our students,” said Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, president of Parker University. “CTCA’s commitment to developing customized treatment plans for each patient is in alignment with what we teach at Parker and what we provide in our chiropractic wellness clinics, which is another reason this partnership is such a great fit.”

In addition, students will work closely with Dr. John Sibley, a chiropractor at CTCA and private-practice owner in Tulsa, where they will shadow him and gain hands-on experience with patients from his practice and at CTCA.

“Through the internship at CTCA, students will acquire insight of how chiropractic care benefits cancer patients and will have the opportunity to see the results firsthand,” said Sibley.

Chiropractic can be beneficial to many cancer patients’ overall health. The CTCA chiropractors help cancer patients find relief from the pain and discomfort related to cancer treatments and provide care to help reduce stress and increase mobility, flexibility, strength, function, as well as improve quality of life.

“This internship is designed to best prepare Parker students for clinical practice within integrated healthcare settings,” said Dr. Patrick Bodnar, assistant dean of clinics at Parker University. “It will expand the clinical portion of the student’s education and will benefit them tremendously.”

Parker is committed to providing integrative educational experiences for the students they serve. Internship programs with integrative leaders such as CTCA provide a learning environment that prepares students for a future which Parker believes will include chiropractors, medical doctors, nutritionists, and other health care providers all working together to provide patient care.

Jami Hamilton, tri-nine Parker student, is the first student to participate in the internship. She began the program in mid-May and the impact is already clear.

“Since beginning my internship at CTCA with Dr. Sibley, I have learned a tremendous amount of information and gained a wealth of experience,” said Hamilton. “I have enjoyed interacting with the other health care professionals at the hospital and learning their role in the patient’s care. They do a wonderful job of integrating care and providing personal treatment for each patient’s condition. At Dr. Sibley’s office, I have learned about running a chiropractic office, which has given me confidence to establish my own practice following graduation.”